Chapter Text
2048
Clash.
Swing.
Defend.
"Sooo,” Wifies hissed as Theo hit his side lightly with a wooden sword. “Why am I getting trained out here–” He brought his shield up, defending himself from Theo’s attack.
"No talking to your enemies while fighting, you're getting distracted,” Theo scolded and landed a hit on Wifies, making the other stumble backwards. "See.”
“You're acting like Flame a lot, you know," Wifies commented, adjusting his position.
He tried to disarm Theo by fighting aggressively.
Theo saw what Wifies was doing. He blocked it. “Okay, bro, you gotta lock in.”
Wifies almost fell. "No, it's pointless, like, why am I out here in the scorching heat fighting you?” He charged at Theo, landing a hit on the other’s shoulder.
“Because, it's needed, Wifies. There's zombies everywhere,” Theo explained like Wifies was a two-year-old and not a twenty-two-year-old. "You need to learn how to protect yourself.”
Wifies hesitated for a moment, he was still processing the other's words.
Theo took this as an opportunity to swing.
Wifies blinked then realized what was happening.
Their swords clashed together.
Clang.
Wifies furrowed his brows. He studied Theo, how he moved, how he thought.
After purposely getting hit a few times by Theo, he finally fought back. He fixed his stance, then charged, hitting Theo a couple of times.
Wifies dodged as Theo tried to hit him again on the side.
Theo didn't know where was Wifies now, he disappeared from him–
Thwack.
“What the hell–" Theo sputtered out as Wifies attacked him from behind. “That was actually awesome, dude– that was so unexpected.” Theo stumbled away from Wifies, creating distance.
.
“Good fight," Wifies said, offering to shake Theo’s hand. Sweat beads down his forehead.
Wifies had lost, nonetheless it was alright.
"Good fight,” Theo replied, shaking Wifies’ hand. "God, dude, that was awesome for someone like you.”
Wifies chuckled, wiping his forehead with a towel. "Thanks, bro, you were good yourself."
“Guys, I got bread!" Parrot yelled over the chaos between Spoke and Planet's arguments.
“Bread?" Wifies perked up, dropping his towel. “Okay, see you, Theo," he said, practically running towards Parrot now.
Theo laughed. “Save me some!" he yelled.
“No promises," Wifies shouted, already grabbing a handful of them.
.
"Where do you find all this bread?” Wifies asked, sitting down on the bench.
Parrot chuckled. “I have a little farm down in the basement."
“What?" Spoke gasped. “You never told us that!”
“Well, I forgot,” he admitted, rubbing his temples.
“Wow,” Planet said, voice low. He crossed his arms. “Wow, Parrot.”
Parrot raised both his hands. “My bad!”
While they were bickering over there, Wifies stole five more pieces of bread from Planet’s basket.
Their bickering grew louder and louder and while that happened, Wifies kept stealing more and more bread.
Eventually, as their bickering died down, they glanced at the basket then realized there was none.
“Where's the bread?”
“What the hell?”
“Who's fatass ate it all?” Theo demanded.
Everyone looked around to find and blame one another.
Another argument was about to spark.
“Hey, heyy,” Wemmbu cheerfully said, walking in their backyard as if his family weren't about to skin each other over bread.
Flame walked behind him, arms crossed.
“What's going on?” Flame asked, eyes narrowing at them.
Theo — who was sitting at the opposite side of where Wifies was — pointed at Wifies. “This guy stole our bread!” he yelled.
Wifies gasped dramatically, clutching his chest like he'd got hit. “Woah, woah, woah, what a big accusation, huh?” He paused, then leaned forward. “Where's your proof?” his voice was low, demanding.
“I–” Theo paused. “I– um, the fact that you love eating bread!”
“Uh-huh, and?”
Theo sputtered.
Wifies leaned back, delighted with his answer.
“You moron–” Theo grabbed the wooden sword he had on the side.
Parrot stopped Theo from doing anything rash. “Hey– hey, bro, I can make more.”
Theo rolled his eyes and sat back down, but still glaring at Wifies.
“Wait, Parrot, can I go with you?” Wifies asked, standing up already before the other could speak.
“Sure, I guess,” Parrot said, walking inside their cabin.
.
Parrot was harvesting his crops and tossing the wheat aside for Wifies to pick up.
“Do you think someone will find a cure?” Wifies asked, picking up the wheat.
Parrot paused, his sickle hovering over the wheat. “Maybe,” he whispered. “Hopefully someone does, if they don't end up finding a cure…”
He didn't finish it.
The words hung in the air.
“Do you think I'll be capable of making a cure?” Wifies asked, half-joking. He walked over to plant seeds.
Parrot shrugged. “Maybe, if you tried, or studied a lot.”
.
“Honestly, if one of us was infected, what would you do?” Parrot asked as he took the bread out of the furnace.
Wifies thought for a moment. There were a lot of answers that Wifies could do, there were a lot of things he would do to protect his family. “Maybe spiral,” he admitted. It was a half-truth.
He really would spiral, he would sit by their grave for hours and never eat until someone forced him to.
Parrot let out a breath that was a laugh and an exhale. “Honestly, bro, I respect.”
Wifies grinned. “What would you do?”
Parrot leaned on the wall. “Cry and cry. You know, the basics,” Parrot said, then paused. “Maybe try to find something so it'll be transferred to me instead.”
Wifies’ eyes widened. “Wha– no, Parrot, I'm not letting that happen to you.”
“It's a hypothetical, remember?”
“Yeah, but if that actually happened I'm not letting that happen to you,” Wifies argued.
Parrot chuckled. “I know you wouldn't, bread boy.”
They were outside, finding materials for the others.
They were out of clothes and barely had any first-aid kits.
Flame and Wemmbu already went out a week ago so now it was Wifies and Parrot’s turn.
“Look, Wifies!" Parrot beamed, grinning wildly as he waved his new netherite katana.
"Nice, dude.” Wifies smirked, bringing out his wooden sword. “This is way better."
Parrot snorted. "I should get you one, hold up.”
He tossed Wifies a mini knife.
“Yes!" Wifies waved it around too. "Finally! I won't have to use this—” He tossed the wooden sword in the river. “—stupid sword."
Parrot chuckled. "Whatever, let's go back home before night comes.” He gestured to Wifies to follow him.
Their home was a few blocks away. “Home sweet home!" Wifies announced, fidgeting with his mini knife.
"Do you even know how to use that?” Parrot asked, pointing at his weapon.
The guy shrugged. "Maybe.”
"Hm, why do you wear that shirt all the time?” Parrot asked, gesturing at his yin and yang shirt.
“It's whatever, I just like it."
The house was unbelievably loud, Spoke was screaming, Planet was singing something off-key, Wemmbu was arguing with Flame and Parrot was yelling at them to shut up.
It was the type of loud where it feels like home.
Wifies laughed with them.
They could be happy for a while.
They could stay happy for a while.
They could forget all their problems for a while. Just for a while.